BROCKTON – The goal is clear for the Cardinal Spellman High girls soccer team this fall.

After winning the Division 3 South Sectional title last year and losing to Newburyport in the state semifinals, the Cardinals want to take it a step further this fall.

“We want to look at the trophy in the case in the fitness center and say, ‘That was our trophy, that’s what we did,’” said senior captain Lily Demers.

The Cardinals finished 18-2-2 last year, rattling off their third consecutive 18-win campaign.

“Usually it’s passed on from one class to another,” said coach Mike Perry. “I think the kids have always done a pretty good job of being an example, getting good results and then the next group understanding this is the way that it has to be done.”

Said Julia Schneider: “I think we can build on the excitement from last year.”

The Cardinals are loaded with experienced talent. They plan to start seven seniors, five of whom are captains with three or more years of starting experience.

Two of those captains are the Schneider twins – Julia, a four-year starting goalkeeper, and Kristina, another four-year starter – who are both committed to play soccer next year at UMass-Lowell.

Joining them are fellow four-year starters Brianna Steeves and Hannah Boucher. The youngest of the captains with three years of starting experience is Demers.

Jess Harlow and Holly Blackstead are the other seniors slotted to be starters.

“That’s irreplaceable,” said Perry of having gobs of experience on the field. “They know what to expect and now you’re just in a different position where you’re the leader.

“Their roles have changed a little bit. These are the girls we go to as coaches and say, ‘Hey, listen, this is what’s got to get done.”

The seven seniors know this is their final run together.

“For us, this is our senior year,” said Boucher. “This is our final team to try and win the whole thing. We got so close last year; that definitely motivates us more.”

With all of Spellman’s talent and success, the Cardinals will be a marked team.

“I like having a target on my back,’’ said Kristina Schneider. “I like going into every game knowing that everyone wants to beat you.”

The Cardinals will be strong in the midfield.

Boucher shored up Spellman’s midfield by dropping back from forward. She’ll join Steeves, Harlow and Blackstead.

Page 2 of 2 - “They’re all interchangeable,” said Perry of his midfielders. “They can play the middle, they can play outside, they can go back and play the stopper position.”

Defense looks to be the one spot on the Cardinals’ depth chart that isn’t completely locked in, although junior Lisa Evans and Demers can be relied on to help out Julia Schneider in net.

Kendall Pitts and Faith Montgomery will also play key roles this fall.

Said Steeves: “We have a bunch of upperclassmen and some new freshmen that are pretty good, too, so I think we’re going to go far this year.”

Spellman’s past three seasons have ended in eerily similar fashions. In 2011 and 2012, the Cardinals lost in penalty kicks to Dedham and Holliston, respectively. In the 2013 state semifinals, Spellman was called for two fouls, both of which ended with penalty-shot goals en route to a 3-0 loss.

“I think the Newburyport game was winnable,” said Kristina Schneider, “and we could have won the whole thing last year, so that’s motivation to come back and take what’s ours.